Rider propelled vehicle



. July 13, 1948. c, :Q s I 2,444,980

RIDER PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed D90. 20, 1946 I nz'entor Eurrtrrlins Attorney:

Patented July 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIDER PROPELLED VEHICLE Clyde Cummins, Middletown, Ind. Application December 20, 1946, SerialNo. 717,371

of rider-propelled vehicle and more particularly has reference to a novel propelling means for use with vehicles of the type on which the rider lies ina prone position on the stomach.

- More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide apropelling means for vehicles of the aforedescribed' character adapted to be actuated by the feet of the rider while disposedin a prone position for propelling a vehicle upon which the rider'is disposed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a propelling means especially adapted for use on conventional sleds upon runners and by means of which the sled may be self-propelled bythe rider. v

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a device for propelling sleds or wheeled structures similar to toy sleds through an impetus furnished by the feet and legs of the rider while in a prone position.

Still :a further object ofthe invention is to provide a, propelling attachment for toy vehicles of the type aforereferred to and which is capable of being readily applied to or removed from such vehicles.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

' Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear end of a conventional toy sled and showing the propelling attachment connected thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rear portion of the sled and the propelling attachment;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

cated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein to illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear portion of a conventional toy sled is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and designated generally 5. The sled 5 is of a wellknown-and conventional type including a platform 6 supported by cross-braces 1 which are fastened at their ends to side rails 8. Side rails 8 are supported above runners 9 by braces In. The sled 5 is of the type adapted to be ridden by a single rider'disposed in a prone position on the .stomach, as indicated in dotted lines t H in a Claims. (Cl. est-12.14)

.40 Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view takensubstantially along a plane as indi- Figure 1 and is adapted to be steered in vention-al manner by the hands.

The propelling attachment, designated generally l2 and comprising the invention, includes a pair of side bars I3 which are spaced aparta distance-substantially equal to the spacing of the rails 8 and which are provided at their rear endswith transversely aligned bearings M for journaling the ends of a shaft or axle l5-whichis disposed therebetween and transversely of the propelling attachment l2. The bars 13 are also provided with aligned sleeves l6, disposed forwardly of the bearings M for receiving the ends of a transversely disposed shaft H which may be journaled therein but which is preferably fixedly secured to the sleeves l6.

As best seen in Figure 3, the rear ends of the side rails 8 are hollow and open rearwardly to receive the forward ends 18 of the bars I3 which are shaped to fit relatively snug therein and which are telescopically engaged therewith and removable for demountably attaching the propelling attachment I2 to the sled 5. The bar portions I [8 are provided with longitudinally spaced upwardly opening recesses i9 adapted to be selectively aligned with an opening 20 in the upper part of each rail 8. Each rail 8 is provided with a spring latch 2| which is riveted or otherwise secured at 22, adjacent its forward end to its associated rail 8 and which extends rearwardly therefrom. Therear, free end of each spring latch 2| is provided with a depending pin or projection 23 disposed to be received in the opening 20 of said rail and spring urged inwardly through said opening and into engagement with the recess l9 aligned therewith, for detachably connecting the bar ends [8 to the rails 8, and for providing means for adjustably spacing the attachment I2 relatively to the rear end of the sled 5.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the bearings l4 and sleeves l6 are each provided with a pair of depending and diverging braces 24 which are attached at their lower ends to runners 25, so that each bar I3 is supported by a runner 25,

a conlocated directly therebeneath. and in longitudinal alignment with the runners 9. The runners 9 and 25, are substantially inverted T-shaped in cross section and the upstanding web portion of the runners 25 are extended at the forward ends of said-runners, beyond the horizontal portions thereof. Said extensions 260i the web portions of runners 25 are adapted to overlie the rear end of the webof the runners 9 and to be secured thereto by detachable fastenings 21 for cooperating with the means I9, 23 for detachably connecting the propelling attachment 12 to the rear end of the sled 5.

A wheel 28 equipped with a pneumatic tire 29 is keyed to the intermediate portion of the axle I and a pair of ratchet wheels 30 are also keyed to the axle I5, adjacent the wheel 28 and with one of said ratchet wheels 38 disposed on either side thereof. The teeth of the. ratchet wheels 30 are inclined ina counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figures 1 and 4. A pair of cranks 3! are provided with bearings 32 at corresponding ends thereof which turnably engage the axle I5,

adjacent to and on the outer sides of the ratchet wheels 30 and. said cranks 3| extend upwardly from the bearings 32 and are pivota-lly connected at their upper ends each to the rear end of a connecting rod 33. The forward ends of the connecting rods 33 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of a pair of. foot pedals 3a which extend downwardly and forwardly therefrom and in front of the shafts l'l. Each of the pedals 34 is provided intermediate of its ends with the rearwardly extending bearing 35 which is rotatably disposed on the shaft I! to permit the foot pedals .34 to oscillate on said shaft relatively to one another. A pawl '35 is pivotally connected at its rear end .31 to the intermediate portion of each crank 31 and above one of the ratchet wheels 30. The pawls 35 extend forwardly and downwardly from the cranks 3i and are provided with tapered forward ends adapted to engage against the counter-clockwise facing, substantially radial faces 38 of the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30. A leaf spring 39 is fixedly connected at its rear end at All to each crank 3|, above the pivot .37! thereof, and said springs 39 bear upon the 'pawls 36 for urging them downwardly and into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 30.

- The pneumatic tire 29, when inflated, is of a diameter so that a portion thereof will engage the surface, engaged by the runners :9 and 25 and between said runners 25, and said tire 29 is ;provided with a plurality of cross chains 4!, preferably spaced ;a distance apart so that at least one of the cross chains 4! will at all times be in engagement with said supporting surface.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the rider ll lying in a prone position and face down on the platform 6 may conveniently place his feet on the pedals 34 and oscillatesaid pedals so that when the upper end of one pedal is swinging forwardly, the upper end of the other pedal will be swinging rearwardly. As the upper end of each pedal 34 swings rearwardly, the connecting rod 33 thereof will be moved rearwardly to rock the crank 3!, connected thereto, in the same direction that the pedal 34 is moving :or counter-clockwise as seen in Figures 1 and 4. During this counter-clockwise movement of the crank 31, its pawl 36 will ride over the rounded sides 42 of the ratchet wheel teeth and thus move relatively thereto. When the pedal 34 is moved in the opposite direction or rocked clockwise to swing its crank'3l clockwise, the spring 39 thereof will cause the pawl 36 to engage behind one of the tooth faces 38 for rotating the ratchet wheel 30 thereof in a clockwise direction as seen in Figures 1 and4. As each of the ratchet wheels 30 and the wheel 28 are keyed to the axle i5, it 'will be readily apparent that when either ratchet Wheel 33 is revolved in a clockwise direction that the wheel 28 will likewise be so driven for propelling the attachment l2 and sled 5 in a forward direction or from left to right as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

Obviously, other means may be provided for affording traction to the pneumatic tires 29 such as anti-skid tire treads or spikes, or if desired the wheel 28 may be provided with a solid tire having an anti-skid surface.

Likewise, the attachment I2 may be modified by the elimination of the runners 2 5 and braces 25. The attachment may be utilized with an occupant ridden toy employing ground engaging wheels in lieu of the runners 25. It will also be obvious, that the cross chains 4| or other traction means may be dispensed with when the propelling wheel of the attachment is not intended for engagement with a slippery surface such ,as ice or snow.

Various other modifications and changes are sorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

.I claim: I

1. In, an occupant driven toy vehicle of the class wherein the rider rides in a prone position and face down and includinga platform for supporting the rider, rails extending rearwardly of said platform, an axlejournaledat its ends in said rails, a ground engaging wheel keyed to said axle and disposed, to engage the supporting sur: face of the toy, said wheel being located rearwardly of said platform, a ratchet wheel keyed to said axle, a crank rotatably connected to the axle, a foot pedal pivotally supported between said rails and rearwardly of the platform adapted to be engaged by a foot of the rider, a connecting rod pivotally connected at one endto thefreeiend of said crank and at its opposite end to one end of said foot pedal, and a pawl pivotally connected to the crank for engaging and rotating. the ratchet wheel when the crank is rockedin one direction and for :ridin over the teeth of 'the ratchet wheel when the crank is rocked in :the other direction by an oscillating movement of the foot pedaLxfor propelling said vehicle in one direction. r

2. A rider propelled toy'vehicle as in :claim 1, said rails being detachably connected to the toy vehicle for detachably mounting the propelling wheel and actuating means thereof on the vehicle. I

3. A toy vehicle as in claim 1, and means for longitudinally adjusting said rails-relatively to the vehicle for adiustably spacingthe foot pedals relatively thereto.

4. A toy vehicle as in claim 1, a second ratchetwheel keyed to the axle, a second foot pedal pivotally mounted between. said railsand independently of said first mentioned pedal and adapted to be engaged by the other foot of the rider,and a second crank, connecting rod and pawl for actuating said second ratchet wheel wherebythe ratchet wheels may be alternately driven-'forproviding a substantially uninterrupted drive for the ground" engaging propelling wheels.

5. An attachment for occupant ridden toys-of the type in which the rider is disposed in-a prone position and face down on a platform of the toy, said propelling attachment comprising side rails or bars detachably connected to the rear end of the vehicle, an axle disposed between said rails and iournaled therein, a ground engaging wheel keyed to said axle, a pair of ratchet wheels keyed to the axle, a pair of cranks swingably'connected to the axle, a pawl 'pivotally mounted on each crank and adapted to engage the teeth of one of the ratchet wheels for turning the ratchet wheel in one direction and for riding over the teeth thereof when the pawl is moving in the opposite direction, a pair of foot pedals pivotally mounted between said rails and forwardly of the ground engaging wheel and behind said platform, and connecting rods connecting corresponding ends of the foot pedals to the free ends of said cranks, said foot pedals being adapted to be engaged and independently oscillated by the feet of the rider for revolving the ratchet wheels, axle and ground engaging wheel in one direction for propelling said toy.

6. An attachment as in claim 5, said attachment being detachably mounted on said toy.

7. An attachment as in claim 5, said attachment bein detachably mounted on said toy and Number REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 8065M Kelley et a1 Dec. 12, 1905 

